KIWI(8)

NAME
kiwi - Creating Operating System Images

SYNOPSIS

kiwi-ng [global options] service <command> [<args>]
kiwi-ng -h | --help
kiwi-ng [--profile=<name>...]
        [--type=<build_type>]
        [--logfile=<filename>]
        [--debug]
        [--color-output]
    image <command> [<args>...]
kiwi-ng [--debug]
        [--color-output]
    result <command> [<args>...]
kiwi-ng [--profile=<name>...]
        [--shared-cache-dir=<directory>]
        [--type=<build_type>]
        [--logfile=<filename>]
        [--debug]
        [--color-output]
    system <command> [<args>...]
kiwi-ng compat <legacy_args>...
kiwi-ng -v | --version
kiwi-ng help

DESCRIPTION

KIWI NG is an imaging solution that is based on an image XML description. Such a description is represented by a directory which includes at least one config.xml or .kiwi file and may as well include other files like scripts or configuration data.

A collection of example image descriptions can be found on the github repository here: https://github.com/OSInside/kiwi-descriptions. Most of the descriptions provide a so called JeOS image. JeOS means Just enough Operating System. A JeOS is a small, text only based image including a predefined remote source setup to allow installation of missing software components at a later point in time.

KIWI NG operates in two steps. The system build command combines both steps into one to make it easier to start with KIWI NG. The first step is the preparation step and if that step was successful, a creation step follows which is able to create different image output types.

In the preparation step, you prepare a directory including the contents of your new filesystem based on one or more software package source(s) The creation step is based on the result of the preparation step and uses the contents of the new image root tree to create the output image.

KIWI NG supports the creation of the following image types:

•   ISO Live Systems

•   Virtual Disk for e.g cloud frameworks

•   OEM Expandable Disk for system deployment from ISO or the network

•   File system images for deployment in a pxe boot environment

    Depending on the image type a variety of different disk formats and architectures are supported.

GLOBAL OPTIONS

--color-output
    Use Escape Sequences to print different types of information in colored output. The underlaying terminal has to understand those escape characters. Error messages appear red, warning messages yellow and debugging information will be printed light grey.

--debug
    Print debug information on the commandline.

--logfile=<filename>
    Specify log file. the logfile contains detailed information about the process.

--profile=<name>
    Select profile to use. The specified profile must be part of the XML description. The option can be specified multiple times to allow using a combination of profiles

--shared-cache-dir=<directory>
    Specify an alternative shared cache directory. The directory is shared via bind mount between the build host and image root system and contains information about package repositories and their cache and meta data. The default location is set to /var/cache/kiwi

--type=<build_type>
    Select image build type. The specified build type must be configured as part of the XML description.

--version
    Show program version

EXAMPLE

$ git clone https://github.com/OSInside/kiwi-descriptions
$ kiwi --type vmx system build \
    --description kiwi-descriptions/suse/x86_64/suse-leap-15.1-JeOS \
    --target-dir /tmp/myimage

COMPATIBILITY

This version of KIWI NG uses a different caller syntax compared to former versions. However there is a compatibility mode which allows to use a legacy KIWI NG commandline as follows:

$ kiwi compat \
    --build kiwi-descriptions/suse/x86_64/suse-leap-15.1-JeOS \
    --type vmx -d /tmp/myimage

AUTHOR
Marcus Schäfer

COPYRIGHT
2020, Marcus Schäfer